Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday his country demands that Turkey withdraw its troops from Iraq, Sputnik reported.

"Turkish actions are completely unacceptable," Lavrov said in statements.

Turkey's ex-premier Ahmet Davutoglu claimed that his country's troops are deployed to strengthen the sovereignty of Iraq. That is a completely unacceptable position, in principle, I believe what the Turks are doing deserves far more public attention by our western partners," Lavrov said.

In December, Turkey deployed about 150 troops and 25 tanks to a base in the Iraqi Nineveh province. Ankara said its troops had entered Iraq to protect Turkish instructors deployed at the base earlier to train local militias, fighting against Daesh.

Source: MENA